Workbox



April 2, 1929. w, EY 1,707,806

WORK BOX Filed Oct. 1927 INVENTOR BY fl g ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 2, 1929. 4

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM HANLEY, or EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNOR TO FERGUSON BROTH- ERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

WORKBOX.

Application filed October 4, 1927. Serial No. 224,015.

The object of my invention is to produce a portable work box of the stand type, having hinged covers, in which the opening and closing of one cover will impart a corresponding movement to the other cover through novel connecting mechanism which is much simpler in construction and more positive in its action than those heretofore produced and in which yielding means are employed for cushioning the covers as they approach the limit of their opening movement, said yielding means also serving to ensure the start of the closing movement of the covers and thereby prevent any liability of the operative connection between the two covers sticking and binding. I

A practical embodiment of my invention 1s represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents the work boxin end eleva tion.

Fig. 2 represents a detail vertical cross section through the work box with the covers closed, a portion of the protective end partition being broken away to more clearly illustrate the link connection between the covers.

Fig. 3'represents a similar view with the covers opened.

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged detail V ew showing more clearly the sliding connection between the pivot which connects the inner ends ofthe links andthe vertical guide on the box.

Fig. 5 represents a sect-ion taken in the plane of the line VV of Fig. 4, looking 1n the direction of the arrows.

The work box generally'comprises the bot-: tom 1, the ends 2, 2, the sides'3, 3 and the covers 4, 4, which covers are hinged to the sides to open and close with a swinging movement away from and towards each other. Thework box may be provided with a suitable standard or support'5 and also with a handle 6.

Links 7, 7 are pivoted at their outer ends at 8, 8 to their respective covers 4, 4, said links being connected together at their inner ends by a pivot 9. These links are housed entirely within the work box adjacent one of the ends thereof when the covers are closed. -A partition 10 is provided for protecting the contents of the box from contact with the links and their sliding pivot and for ensuring the free action of the links as and closed. I

I have provided a vertical guide which is shdably engaged by the pivot 9 which connects the inner ends of the links 7, 7, whereby the operation of one of the covers to open and close the same will correspondingly open and close the other cover. This guide in the present instance comprises a vertical groove 11 formed in the inner face of one of the ends 2 and a face plate 12 having a slot 13, along w thin which groove and slot the pivot 9 slides, the upward sliding movement of the link pivot being limited by the upper end of the slot 13.

I have also provided yielding means for cushioning the covers as they approach the limit of their opening movement and for ensuring the start of the covers on their closing movement, which means is herein shown as comprising a vertically disposed coil spring 14 located in an enlarged portion of the groove 11 and normally shoulder 15 formed by the enlargement of the said groove, in position to be engaged and compressed b the link pivot 9 as the covers approach t e limit of their outward movement.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a very simple and posithe covers are opened tively actinglink connection between the two covers as well as providing means for cushioning the covers as they approach the limit of their opening movement. Furthermore, it

will be seen that this yielding means ensures the starting of the llnk pivot on its downward movement along its guide as the covers are started on their closingmovement.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence, I do not intend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

Vhat I claim is A work box having covershinged thereto, to swing outwardly beyond their hinged connections with the box to a substantially horizontal posit-ion, links pivoted to each other and to said covers, said work box having a vertical. groove slidably engaged by the pivot which connects said links whereby the movement of one cover will impart a similar movement to the other cover, a spring in said groove in position to be engaged and compressed by the upwardly sliding link pivot as the covers approach the limit of their outward movement for cushioning the covers and for ensuring the start of the closing movement of said covers, and a face plate located over said groove and having a vertical slot,

the upper end of which serves to limit the 10 upward movement of the pivot and thereby the outward movement of the covers. 7

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 29th clay of September, 1927.

' WILLIAM HANLEY. 

